ACAS
ACAS is the UK body providing free employment advice, early conciliation before tribunal claims, and publishing codes of practice on disciplinary and grievance procedures.
legal-terms
Category
intermediate
Difficulty
5 min read
Read time
2025-01-15
Updated
Definition
Short definition
ACAS is the UK body providing free employment advice, early conciliation before tribunal claims, and publishing codes of practice on disciplinary and grievance procedures.
Detailed explanation
ACAS (Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service) is a UK government-funded body that helps prevent and resolve workplace disputes through advice, training, and conciliation services.
Key functions include early conciliation (mandatory before most employment tribunal claims), publishing the ACAS Code of Practice on disciplinary and grievance procedures, and providing free employment advice via helpline and website.
Employment tribunals can increase or reduce compensation by up to 25% if parties unreasonably fail to follow the ACAS Code.
Practical guidance
How it works
Employers follow ACAS Code for procedures. If dispute arises, employee contacts ACAS. Conciliator tries to resolve before tribunal. If unresolved, certificate issued to proceed.
Best practices
Follow ACAS Code for all disciplinary/grievance
Document procedures thoroughly
Use ACAS helpline for advice
Engage constructively in conciliation
Train managers on ACAS Code
Legal context
Legal basis
Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992
Jurisdiction: United Kingdom
Key provisions
Early conciliation mandatory before most tribunal claims
ACAS Code of Practice on disciplinary and grievance
Free helpline for employment advice
Tribunal can adjust award 25% for Code breaches
Conciliation is free and confidential
Certificates required to proceed to tribunal
Official source
Frequently asked questions
Is ACAS conciliation compulsory?
Early conciliation through ACAS is mandatory before most employment tribunal claims. The conciliator will try to help resolve the dispute, but you can still go to tribunal if no resolution.
What happens if employer ignores ACAS Code?
Employment tribunals can increase compensation by up to 25% if the employer unreasonably failed to follow the ACAS Code. Similarly, employee awards can be reduced 25% if they failed to follow it.
Related glossary terms
Unfair Dismissal
Unfair dismissal is when an employee with 2+ years service is dismissed without a fair reason or without a fair procedure under UK employment law.
Disciplinary Procedure
A disciplinary procedure is the formal process for addressing employee misconduct or performance issues, following steps including investigation, hearing, warning, and appeal.
Grievance
A grievance is a formal complaint raised by an employee about a workplace issue, handled through a structured procedure involving investigation and resolution.